This week in Jetson Green Energy News, we’re reporting on a new green skyscraper in San Francisco, Top 10 Green Cities, Top 10 Green Projects, Donald Trump’s controversial (banned) anti-wind advertisement, environmental clean up in Wisconsin, new environmental funding in Minnesota, a new research facility in Colorado, and earthquake-resistant wallpaper. And, even though Earth Day is over, we still have plenty of green events for you to enjoy.

Transbay Transit Tower in San Francisco

Tallest Tower on the West Coast to be Built in San Francisco

Project developers Hines, Houston, and Boston Properties broke ground on the 1,070-ft-tall Transbay Transit Tower after closing a land purchase for $192 million. Designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, it will be taller than the Wilshire Grand tower being built in Los Angeles and become the West Coast’s tallest building. Green features include integrated metal sunshades to reduce solar gain, low-E glass, heat-exchanging coils in the foundation, comprehensive water recycling systems, and high efficiency fresh air handlers.

This week in Jetson Green Energy News, we’re reporting on wind power in Australia and California, the smart homes and solar job market in the U.S., solar power in Germany, Sweden’s plans to be oil-free, Panasonic’s Solar Lantern Project, and a French winery that is going to make toothpaste from its carbon emissions. Plus, we have updated our calendar of upcoming green events.

Southern Hemisphere’s Largest Wind Farm Opens in Australia

The $1 billion AUD, 420-megawatt Macarthur Wind Farm is now feeding Australia’s electric grid. Owned by AGL Energy and Meridian Energy, the farm features the the Vestas V112-3.0 MW wind turbine. More than 50% of the cumulative wind power capacity in Australia has been installed by Vestas.

This week in Jetson Green Energy News, we’re reporting on recent energy-efficient design awards, a reinstatement of New Mexico’s eco-friendly building standards, new wind power coming to Canada, U.S. GSA sustainability goals, and America’s continued concern for the economy over the environment. Plus, our calendar of upcoming green events gets some new additions.

A home design competition that challenges entrants to choose building materials with minimal environmental impact, Carbon Challenge, has been won by ZeroEnergy Design for a Habitat for Humanity home in Providence, Rhode Island, and by Cho Benn Holback + Associates for its updated row hoses in Baltimore, Maryland.

This week in Jetson Green Energy News, we’re celebrating the 13th birthday of LEED, reporting on renewable energy in Germany, Australia, and the United States, talking about why incandescent bulb sales are declining, and checking out a molten salt thermal plant (a what?) in Nevada. Plus, our calendar of upcoming green events keeps on growing, especially with Earth Day just around the corner.

Happy Birthday LEED!

On March 30, 2013, it was thirteen years since LEED became a fully functioning rating system. There are now more than 184,000 professionals with LEED credentials and 9.7 billion square feet of 51,000 construction projects are participating in LEED. Each day, over 1.5 million square feet are certified LEED. Get more LEED facts and trivia from the U.S. Green Building Council and check out LEED projects on Jetson Green.(more…)

This week in Jetson Green Energy News, Australia has a new addition to its list of carbon neutral cities, the Indian state of Gujarat will reduce water evaporation and produce energy from solar panels over canals, a new shower head from New Zealand engineers reduces water flow by fifty percent, Wisconsin is reducing pollution from a coal plant, New England is getting new high-performance housing communities, a new solar panel reduces cooling costs, a report shows the United States is the largest wind power market, and a Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative aims to improve the U.S. manufacturing sector’s energy productivity, and we have new upcoming green events.

Melbourne Achieves Carbon Neutral Status

Low Carbon Australia, an independent carbon offsetting authority for the Australian Government, has certified the City of Melbourne to join Sydney, Yarra, and Moreland City as having met the National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS) for carbon neutral status.

This week in Jetson Green Energy News, solar power is gaining momentum in Japan and Greece, competition is growing in offshore wind farms, Californians have inexpensive solar investment opportunities, D.C. government agencies will be powered by 100% renewable energy, and we have new upcoming green events.

Japan to Get 111 MW PV Solar Facility

Softbank, a telecommunications company in Japan, has plans to develop a solar power facility in Tomakomai, Hokkaido prefecture, Japan that will have a capacity of 111 MW, 79 of which will be connected to grids belonging to Hokkaido Electric Power under a purchase agreement. The plant is expected to be operational within two years.